Hydroxy-substituted monolactones and use thereof as intermediates for preparing lubricating oil and fuel additives

ABSTRACT

Compositions comprising hydroxy-substituted monolactones, a process for reacting olefinic compounds with certain carboxylic reactants and products prepared by the process. The compositions containing the hydroxy-substituted lactones and the products of the process are useful as intermediates for the preparation of additives for lubricants and fuels.

This application is a Div of 08/518,069, filed Aug. 22, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,500.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hydroxyl group containing lactone compounds which are useful as intermediates for the preparation of low chlorine containing additives for lubricating oils and normally liquid fuels and a process for preparing the compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous types of additives are used to improve lubricating oil and fuel compositions. Such additives include, but are certainly not limited to dispersants and detergents of the ashless and ash-containing variety, oxidation inhibitors, anti-wear additives, friction modifiers, and the like. Such materials are well known in the art and are described in many publications, for example, Smalheer, et al, "Lubricant Additives", Lezius-Hiles Co., Cleveland, Ohio, USA (1967); M. W. Ranney, Ed., "Lubricant Additives", Noyes Data Corp., Park Ridge, N.J., USA (1973); M. J. Satriana, Ed., "Synthetic Oils and Lubricant Additives, Advances since 1979", Noyes Data Corp., Park Ridge N.J., USA (1982), W. C. Gergel, "Lubricant Additive Chemistry", Publication 694-320-65R1 of The Lubrizol Corp., Wickliffe, Ohio, USA (1994); and W. C. Gergel et al., "Lubrication Theory and Practice" Publication 794-320-59R3 of The Lubrizol Corp., Wickliffe, Ohio, USA (1994); and in numerous United States patents, for example, Chamberlin III, U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,972, Schroeck et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,401, and Ripple et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,602. Many such additives are frequently derived from carboxylic reactants, for example, acids, esters, anhydrides, lactones, and others. Specific examples of commonly used carboxylic compounds used as intermediates for preparing lubricating oil additives include alkyl-and alkenyl substituted succinic acids and anhydrides, polyolefin substituted carboxylic acids, aromatic acids, such as salicylic acids, and others. Illustrative carboxylic compounds are described in Meinhardt et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,435; Norman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,172,892; LeSuer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,607 and Renuse U.S. Pat. No. 3,215,707.

Many carboxylic intermediates used in the preparation of lubricating oil additives contain chlorine. While the amount of chlorine present is often only a very small amount of the total weight of the intermediate, the chlorine frequently is carried over into the carboxylic derivative which is desired as an additive. For a variety of reasons, including environmental reasons, the industry has been making efforts to reduce or to eliminate chlorine from additives designed for use as lubricant or fuel additives.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide low chlorine or chlorine free intermediates which can be used to prepare low chlorine or chlorine free derivatives for use in lubricants and fuels.

The present invention provides hydroxy substituted monolactones which meet this requirement. B. B. Snider and J. W. van Straten, J. Org. Chem., 44, 3567-3571 (1979) describe certain products prepared by the reaction of methyl glyoxylate with several butenes and cyclohexenes. K. Mikami and M. Shimizu, Chem. Rev., 92, 1021-1050 (1992) describe carbonyl-ene reactions, including glyoxylate-ene reactions. D. Savostianov (communicated by P. Pascal), C.R. Acad. Sc. Paris 263, (605-7) (1966) relates to preparation of some α-hydroxylactones via the action of glyoxylic acid on olefins. M. Kerfanto et al., C.R. Acad. Sc. Paris, 264, (232-5) (1967) relates to condensation reactions of α-α-di-(N-morpholino)-acetic acid and glyoxylic acid with olefins. B. B. Jarvis et al, Synthesis, 1079-82 (1990) relates to reactions of oxocarboxylic acids with olefins under acidic conditions to give α-hydroxy butyrolactones.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a composition comprising a compound of the formula ##STR1## each of R¹ and R² is H or a hydrocarbon based group, R³ is H or hydrocarbyl;

R⁴ is a divalent hydrocarbylene group;

n=0 or 1;

y=0 or 1;

wherein X is a divalent hydrocarbyl group selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## R⁵ is H or hydrocarbyl; and each of R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ is independently H or a hydrocarbon based group, provided that at least one of R¹, R², R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ is a hydrocarbon based group containing at least 7 carbon atoms.

In another aspect of this invention, there is provided a process for reacting, usually in the presence of an acidic catalyst,

(A) at least one olefinic compound of the general formula

    (R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)C═C(R.sup.6)(CH(R.sup.7)(R.sup.8))   (III)

wherein each of R¹ and R² is, independently, hydrogen or a hydrocarbon based group and each of R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ is, independently, hydrogen or a hydrocarbon based group provided that at least one is a hydrocarbon based group containing at least 7 carbon atoms; and

(B) at least one carboxylic reactant selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula

    R.sup.3 C(O)(R.sup.4).sub.n C(O)OR.sup.5                   (IV)

and compounds of the formula ##STR3## wherein each of R³, R⁵ and R⁹ is independently H or a hydrocarbyl group, R⁴ is a divalent hydrocarbylene group, and n is 0 or 1 in amounts ranging from 0.6 mole (B) per mole of (A) to 1.5 moles (B) per equivalent of (A), wherein equivalents of (A) are defined hereinafter.

Products prepared by this process are also provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the terms "hydrocarbon", "hydrocarbyl" or "hydrocarbon based" mean that the group being described has predominantly hydrocarbon character within the context of this invention. These include groups that are purely hydrocarbon in nature, that is, they contain only carbon and hydrogen. They may also include groups containing substituents or atoms which do not alter the predominantly hydrocarbon character of the group. Such substituents may include halo-, alkoxy-, nitro-, etc. These groups also may contain hetero atoms. Suitable hetero atoms will be apparent to those skilled in the art and include, for example, sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen. Therefore, while remaining predominantly hydrocarbon in character within the context of this invention, these groups may contain atoms other than carbon present in a chain or ring otherwise composed of carbon atoms.

In general, no more than about three non-hydrocarbon substituents or hetero atoms, and preferably no more than one, will be present for every 10 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon, hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbon based groups. Most preferably, the groups are purely hydrocarbon in nature, that is they are essentially free of atoms other than carbon and hydrogen.

Throughout the specification and claims the expression oil soluble or dispersible is used. By oil soluble or dispersible is meant that an amount needed to provide the desired level of activity or performance can be incorporated by being dissolved, dispersed or suspended in an oil of lubricating viscosity. Usually, this means that at least about 0.001% by weight of the material can be incorporated in a lubricating oil. For a further discussion of the terms oil soluble and dispersible, particularly "stably dispersible", see U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,017 which is expressly incorporated herein by reference for relevant teachings in this regard.

As noted hereinabove, provided by this invention are certain hydroxy-containing lactones and a process for preparing low chlorine or chlorine free compositions useful as intermediates for preparing low chlorine or chlorine free additives for lubricating oil and fuel compositions.

The Compounds

In one embodiment, this invention relates to a composition comprising a compound of the formula ##STR4## wherein y=0 or 1, n=0 or 1 and X is a divalent hydrocarbyl group selected from the group consisting of ##STR5##

Each of R¹ and R² is H or a hydrocarbon based group. In one particular embodiment, each of R¹ and R² is independently H or a lower alkyl group provided that at least one is lower alkyl. In another embodiment, one of R¹ and R² is H and the other is a lower alkyl group. As used herein, the expression "lower alkyl" refers to alkyl groups containing from 1 to 7 carbon atoms. Examples include methyl, ethyl and the various isomers of propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl and heptyl. In one especially preferred embodiment, each of R¹ and R² is H.

R³ is H or hydrocarbyl. These hydrocarbyl groups are usually aliphatic, that is, alkyl or alkenyl, preferably alkyl, more preferably, lower alkyl. Especially preferred is where R³ is H or methyl, most preferably, H.

R⁴ is a divalent hydrocarbylene group. This group may be aliphatic or aromatic, but is usually aliphatic. Often, R⁴ is an alkylene group containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, more often from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms. The `n` is 0 or 1; that is, in one embodiment, R⁴ is present and in another embodiment, R⁴ is absent. More often, R⁴ is absent.

R⁵ is H or hydrocarbyl. When R⁵ is hydrocarbyl, it is usually an aliphatic group, often a group containing from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, often from 8 to about 18 carbon atoms. In another embodiment, R⁵ is lower alkyl, wherein "lower alkyl" is defined hereinabove. Most often, R⁵ is H.

When at least one of R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ is a hydrocarbyl group, it contains from 7 to about 5,000 carbon atoms. More often, such groups are aliphatic groups. In one embodiment, R⁶ is an aliphatic group containing from about 10 to about 300 carbon atoms. In another embodiment, R⁶ contains from 30 to about 100 carbon atoms and is derived from homopolymerized and interpolymerized C₂₋₁₈ olefins.

In a further embodiment, at least one of R⁷ and R⁸ is an aliphatic group containing from 10 to about 300 carbon atoms. Often, at least one of R⁷ and R⁸ contains from about 30 to about 100 carbon atoms and is derived from homopolymerized and interpolymerized C₂₋₁₈ olefins. The polymerized olefins are frequently 1-olefins, preferably ethylene, propylene, butenes, isobutylene and mixtures thereof. Polymerized olefins are frequently referred to herein as polyolefins.

In yet another embodiment at least one of R⁷ and R⁸ is an aliphatic group containing from 8 to about 24 carbon atoms. In another embodiment at least one R⁷ and R⁸ is an aliphatic group containing 12 to about 50 carbon atoms. Within this embodiment, most often one of R⁷ and R⁸ is H and the other is the aliphatic group.

In one preferred embodiment, each of R¹, R² and R³ is independently hydrogen or a lower alkyl or alkenyl group. In one especially preferred embodiment, each of R¹, R² and R³ is hydrogen and each of y and n=0.

In another preferred embodiment. R⁶ is an aliphatic group containing from about 8 to about 150 carbon atoms, R⁵ is H, n is 0 and R³ is H.

The Process

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a process comprising reacting, usually in the presence of an acidic catalyst, (A) at least one olefinic compound and (B) at least one carboxylic reactant wherein (A) and (B) are defined in greater detail hereinbelow.

While all of the reactants may be present at the same time, it has been found that improvements in yield and purity of product are attained when the carboxylic reactant (B) is added, either portionwise or continuously, over an extended period of time, usually up to about 10 hours, more often from 1 hour up to about 6 hours, frequently from about 2-4 hours.

Optionally the process may be conducted in the presence of an azeotroping solvent. Well known azeotroping solvents include toluene, xylene, cyclohexane, etc. Cyclohexane is preferred. When an azeotroping solvent is used, the mode of combining reactants does not appear to have any effect.

The Catalyst

The process of this invention is usually conducted in the presence of an acidic catalyst. Acid catalysts, such as organic sulfonic acids, for example, paratoluene sulfonic acid and methane sulfonic acid, heteropolyacids, the complex acids of heavy metals (e.g., Mo, W, Sn, V, Zr, etc.) with phosphoric acids (e.g., phosphomolybdic acid), and mineral acids, for example, H₂ SO₄ and phosphoric acid, are useful. The amount of catalyst used is generally small, ranging from about 0.01 mole % to about 10 mole %, more often from about 0.1 mole % to about 2 mole %, based on moles of olefinic reactant.

(A) The Olefinic Compound

The olefinic compound employed as a reactant in the process of this invention has the general formula

    (R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)C═C(R.sup.6)(CH(R.sup.7)(R.sup.8))   (III)

wherein each of R¹ and R² is, independently, hydrogen or a hydrocarbon based group and each of R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ is, independently, hydrogen or a hydrocarbon based group provided that at least one is a hydrocarbon based group containing at least 7 carbon atoms. These olefinic compounds are diverse in nature.

Virtually any compound containing an olefinic bond may be used provided it meets the general requirements set forth hereinabove for (III) and does not contain any functional groups (e.g., primary or secondary amines) that would interfere with the carboxylic reactant (B). Useful olefinic compounds may be terminal olefins, i.e., olefins having a ##STR6## group, or internal olefins. Useful olefinic compounds may have more than one olefinic bond, i.e., they may be dienes, trienes, etc. Most often they are mono-olefinic. Examples include linear ∝-olefins, cis- or trans-disubstituted olefins, trisubstituted olefins and tetrasubstituted olefins.

When (A) is a mono-olefin, one mole of (A) contains one equivalent of C═C; when (A) is a di-olefin, one mole of (A) contains 2 equivalents of C═C bonds; when (A) is a tri-olefin, one mole of (A) contains 3 equivalents of C═C bonds, and so forth.

Aromatic double bonds are not considered to be olefinic double bonds within the context of this invention.

As used herein, the expression "polyolefin" defines a polymer derived from olefins. The expression "polyolefinic" refers to a compound containing more than one C═C bond.

Among useful compounds are those that are purely hydrocarbon, i.e., those substantially free of non-hydrocarbon groups, or they may contain one or more non-hydrocarbon groups as discussed in greater detail herein.

In one embodiment, the olefinic compounds are substantially hydrocarbon, that is, each R group in (III) is H or contains essentially carbon and hydrogen. In one aspect within this embodiment, each of R¹, R², R⁷ and R⁸ is hydrogen and R⁶ is a hydrocarbyl group containing from 7 to about 5,000 carbon atoms, more often from about 30 up to about 200 carbon atoms, preferably from about 50 up to about 100 carbon atoms. In another aspect of this embodiment, each of R¹ and R² is hydrogen, R⁶ is H or a lower alkyl group and the group (CH(R⁷)(R⁸)) is a hydrocarbyl group containing from 7 to about 5,000 carbon atoms, more typically from about 30 up to about 200 carbon atom, preferably from 50 up to about 100 carbon atoms.

In another embodiment, one or more of the R groups present in (III) is an organic radical which is not purely hydrocarbon. Such groups may contain or may be groups such as carboxylic acid, ester, amide, salt, including ammonium, amine and metal salts, cyano, hydroxy, thiol, tertiary amino, nitro, alkali metal mercapto and the like. Illustrative of olefinic compounds (III) containing such groups are methyl oleate, oleic acid, 2-dodecenedioic acid, octene diol, linoleic acid and esters thereof, and the like.

Preferably, the hydrocarbyl groups are aliphatic groups. In one preferred embodiment, when an R group is an aliphatic group containing a total of from about 30 to about 100 carbon atoms, the olefinic compound is derived from homopolymerized and interpolymerized C₂₋₁₈ mono- and di-olefins, preferably 1-olefins. In a preferred embodiment, the olefins contain from 2 to about 5 carbon atoms, preferably 3 or 4 carbon atoms. Examples of such olefins are ethylene, propylene, butene-1, isobutylene, butadiene, isoprene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, etc. R groups can, however, be derived from other sources, such as monomeric high molecular weight alkenes (e.g. 1-tetracontene), aliphatic petroleum fractions, particularly paraffin waxes and cracked analogs thereof, white oils, synthetic alkenes such as those produced by the Ziegler-Natta process (e.g., poly-(ethylene) greases) and other sources known to those skilled in the art. Any unsaturation in the R groups may be reduced by hydrogenation according to procedures known in the art, provided at least one olefinic group remains as described for (III).

In one preferred embodiment, at least one R is derived from polybutene, that is, polymers of C₄ olefins, including 1-butene, 2-butene and isobutylene. Those derived from isobutylene, i.e., polyisobutylenes, are especially preferred. In another preferred embodiment, R is derived from polypropylene. In another preferred embodiment, R is derived from ethylene-alpha olefin polymers, particularly ethylene-propylene-diene polymers. Molecular weights of such polymers may vary over a wide range, but especially preferred are those having number average molecular weights (M_(n)) ranging from about 300 to about 20,000, preferably 700 to about 5000. In one preferred embodiment, the olefin is an ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer having M_(n) ranging from about 900 to about 2500. An example of such materials are the Trilene® polymers marketed by the Uniroyal Company, Middlebury, Conn., USA.

A preferred source of hydrocarbyl groups R are polybutenes obtained by polymerization of a C₄ refinery stream having a butene content of 35 to 75 weight percent and isobutylene content of 15 to 60 weight percent in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst such as aluminum trichloride or boron trifluoride. These polybutenes contain predominantly (greater than 80% of total repeating units) isobutylene repeating units of the configuration ##STR7## These polybutenes are typically monoolefinic, that is they contain but one olefinic bond per molecule.

The olefinic compound may be a polyolefin comprising a mixture of isomers wherein from about 50 percent to about 65 percent are tri-substituted olefins wherein one substituent contains from 2 to about 500 carbon atoms, often from about 30 to about 200 carbon atoms, more often from about 50 to about 100 carbon atoms, usually aliphatic carbon atoms, and the other two substituents are lower alkyl.

When the olefin is a tri-substituted olefin, it frequently comprises a mixture of cis- and trans-1-lower alkyl, 1-(aliphatic hydrocarbyl containing from 30 to about 100 carbon atoms), 2-lower alkyl ethene and 1,1-di-lower alkyl, 2-(aliphatic hydrocarbyl containing from 30 to about 100 carbon atoms) ethene.

In one embodiment, the monoolefinic groups are predominantly vinylidene groups, i.e., groups of the formula ##STR8## especially those of the formula ##STR9## although the polybutenes may also comprise other olefinic configurations.

In one embodiment the polybutene is substantially monoolefinic, comprising at least about 30 mole %, preferably at least about 50 mole % vinylidene groups, more often at least about 70 mole % vinylidene groups. Such materials and methods for preparing them are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,286,823 and 5,408,018, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. They are commercially available, for example under the tradenames Ultravis (BP Chemicals) and Glissopal (BASF).

As is apparent from the foregoing, olefins of a wide variety of type and of molecular weight are useful for preparing the compositions of this invention. Useful olefins are usually substantially hydrocarbon and have number average molecular weight ranging from about 100 to about 70,000, more often from about 200 to about 7,000, even more often from about 1,300 to about 5,000, frequently from about 400 to about 3,000.

Specific characterization of olefin reactants (A) used in the processes of this invention can be accomplished by using techniques known to those skilled in the art. These techniques include general qualitative analysis by infrared and determinations of average molecular weight, e.g., M_(n), number average molecular weight, etc. employing vapor phase osmometry (VPO) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Structural details can be elucidated employing proton and carbon 13 (C¹³) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. NMR is useful for determining substitution characteristics about olefinic bonds, and provides some details regarding the nature of the substituents. More specific details regarding substituents about the olefinic bonds can be obtained by cleaving the substituents from the olefin by, for example, ozonolysis, then analyzing the cleaved products, also by NMR, GPC, VPO, and by infra-red analysis and other techniques known to the skilled person.

(B) The Carboxylic Reactant

The carboxylic reactant is at least one member selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula

    R.sup.3 C(O)(R.sup.4).sub.n C(O)OR.sup.5                   (IV)

and compounds of the formula ##STR10## wherein each of R³, R⁵ and R⁹ is independently H or a hydrocarbyl group, R⁴ is a divalent hydrocarbylene group, and n is 0 or 1. Specific embodiments of the groups R³ and R⁵ are set forth hereinabove where corresponding groups in the compound (I) are described. R⁹ is H or hydrocarbyl, preferably H or lower alkyl.

Examples of carboxylic reactants (B) are glyoxylic acid, and other omega-oxoalkanoic acids, keto alkanoic acids such as pyruvic acid, levulinic acid, ketovaleric acids, ketobutyric acids and numerous others. The skilled worker, having the disclosure before him, will readily recognize the appropriate compound of formula (V) to employ as a reactant to generate a given intermediate. Preferred compounds of formula (V) are those that will lead to preferred compounds of formula (I).

Reactant (B) may be a compound of the formula ##STR11## wherein each of R³ and R⁵ is independently H or alkyl. Such compounds arise when the carbonyl reactant is hydrated. Glyoxylic acid monohydrate is a representative example.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the various `R` groups in the product (I) correspond to or are derived from corresponding groups in the olefinic and carboxylic reactants.

The process of this invention is conducted at temperatures ranging from ambient up to the lowest decomposition temperature of any of the reactants, usually from about 60° C. to about 220° C., more often from about 120° C. to about 180° C., preferably up to about 160° C. The process employs from about 0.6 moles (B) per mole of (A) to 1.5 moles (B) per equivalent of (A), more often from about 0.8 moles (B) per mole of (A) to about 1.2 moles (B) per equivalenet of (A), even more often from about 0.95 moles (B) per mole of (A) to about 1.05 moles (B) per equivalent of (A).

The following examples are intended to illustrate several compositions of this invention as well as means for preparing same. Unless indicated otherwise all parts are parts by weight It is to be understood that these examples are intended to illustrate several compositions and procedures of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

A reactor is charged with 3000 parts of a polyisobutene having a number average molecular weight of about 1000 and which contains about 80 mole % terminal vinylidene groups and 6 parts 70% aqueous methansulfonic acid. The materials are heated to 160° C. under N₂ followed by addition of 577.2 parts 50% aqueous glyoxylic acid over 4 hours while maintaining 155-160° C. Water is removed and is collected in a Dean-Stark trap. The reaction is held at 160° C. for 5 hours, cooled to 140° C. and filtered with a diatomaceous earth filter aid. The filtrate has total acid no. (ASTM Procedure D-974)=34.7 and saponification no. (ASTM Procedure D-74)=53.2M_(n) (Gel permeation chromatography (GPC))=1476 and M_(w) (GPC)=3067; unreacted polyisobutene (Thin layer chromatography-Flame ionization detector (TLC-FID))=8.6%.

EXAMPLE 2

A reactor is charged with 300 parts of polyisobutene having a number average molecular weight of about 1000 and containing about 70 mole % of terminal vinylidene groups, 44 parts 50% aqueous glyoxylic acid and 100 parts cyclohexane. The materials are heated to reflux (75° C.) under N₂ and the water is azeotropically removed, collecting 22 parts water. The reactor is equipped for vacuum distillation and is stripped to 120° C. at 10 mm Hg. Infrared analysis of residue shows vilylidene olefin remains. To the reactor are charged 22 parts additional 50% aqueous glyoxylic acid and 100 parts cyclohexane, heated to reflux (75° C.) while azeotropically removing 11 parts water. The materials are stripped to 120° C. at 10 mm Hg and filtered using a diatomaceous earth filter aid. The filtrate shows 18% unreacted polyisobutene (TLC-FID) and saponification No.=61.7.

EXAMPLE 3

One mole (based on total C═C content) of C₁₈₋₂₄ alpha olefin and 1.2 moles glyoxylic acid monohydrate are reacted in the presence of 2 mole % 70% aqueous methane sulfonic acid under a N₂ blanket at 120° C. for four hours, removing water. The reaction product is dried by heating to 130° C. for 1 hour, aqueous distillate being collected in a Dean-Stark trap. The residue is filtered employing a diatomaceous earth filter aid.

EXAMPLE 4

A reactor equipped with a stirrer, thermowell, Dean-Stark trap with condenser and sub-surface N₂ inlet is charged with 500 parts polyisobutylene having a number average molecular weight of about 1000 and containing about 70 mole % of terminal vinylidene groups and 80 parts 50% aqueous glyoxylic acid. The materials are heated to 160° C. and are held at 160° C. for 6 hours while removing H₂ O maintaining a slow N₂ purge. The materials are diluted with 143 parts of mineral oil, reheated to 100° C. and filtered through a diatomaceous earth filter aid.

EXAMPLE 5

A reactor equipped as in Example 4 is charged with 400 parts polyisobutylene having a number average molecular weight of about 1000 and containing less than 10 mole % of terminal vinylidene groups, 100 parts cyclohexane, and 4 parts methane sulfonic acid. The materials are heated to reflux and 27 parts 50% aqueous glyoxylic acid are added over 0.5 hour. The materials are held at reflux for 1 hour while azeotropically removing water. An additional 27 parts 50% aqueous glyoxylic acid are added over 0.5 hour. The materials are held at reflux for 4 hours while azeotropically removing water. The materials are then heated to 150° C. by removing distillate and the materials are held at 150° C. for 1 hour. At this point the materials contain by analysis (TLC-FID) 19% unreacted polyisobutylene. The materials are filtered through a diatomaceous earth filter aid. The filtrate has saponification no.=50.1.

EXAMPLE 6

A reactor equipped as in Example 4 is charged with 1000 parts polyisobutylene having a number average molecular weight of about 1000, 207.2 parts 50% aqueous glyoxylic acid, 5 parts 70% aqueous methane sulfonic acid, 0.1 parts silicone antifoam agent and 300 parts cyclohexane. The reaction is heated to 105° C. under N₂ and is held there for 6 hours, under N₂, collecting water. The temperature is increased to 110° C. and held for 4 hours, collecting water. Cyclohexane is removed by heating at 1 10° C. for 2 hours. Strip to 120° C. at 25 mm Hg for 2 hours then filter with a diatomaceous earth filter aid. Filtrate shows 15.3% unreacted polyisobutylene (TLC-FID). Saponification no.=58.4.

EXAMPLE 7

The procedure of Example 2 is repeated replacing the glyoxylic acid with an equivalent amount of pyruvic acid.

EXAMPLE 8

The procedure of Example 4 is repeated replacing glyoxylic acid with an equivalent amount of levulinic acid.

While the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention disclosed herein is intended to cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for preparing hydroxy-substituted monolactones comprising reacting, in the presence of an acidic catalyst selected from the group consisting of organic sulfonic acids, heteropolyacids, and mineral acids, (A) at least one olefinic compound of the general formula:

    (R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)C═C(R.sup.6)(CH(R.sup.7)(R.sup.8))

wherein each of R¹ and R² is, independently, hydrogen or a hydrocarbon based group and each of R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ is, independently, hydrogen or a hydrocarbon based group provided that at least one is hydrocarbon based group containing at least 7 carbon atoms; and (B) at least one carboxylic reactant selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula

    R.sup.3 C(O)(R.sup.4).sub.n C(O)OR.sup.5                   (IV)

and compounds of the formula ##STR12## wherein each of R³, R⁵ and R⁹ is independently H or a hydrocarbyl group, R⁴ is a divalent hydrocarbylene group, and n is 0 or 1 in amounts ranging from 0.6 moles (B) per mole of (A) to 1.5 moles (B) per equivalent of (A).
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein R⁴ contains from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms.
 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the at least one reactant (B) is glyoxylic acid.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the at least one reactant (B) is the compound of the formula ##STR13## wherein each R³ is a lower alkyl group selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl and n=0.
 5. The process of claim 1 wherein each of R¹ and R² is hydrogen and R⁶ is H or a lower alkyl group and the group (CH(R⁷)(R⁸)) is a hydrocarbyl group containing from 7 to about 5000 carbon atoms.
 6. The process of claim 5 wherein the olefin has M_(n) ranging from about 100 to about 70,000.
 7. The process of claim 6 wherein the group (CH(R⁷)(R⁸)) is an aliphatic group containing from about 30 to about 200 carbon atoms and the olefinic compound is derived from homopolymerized and interpolymerized C₂₋₁₀ olefins.
 8. The process of claim 7 wherein the group (CH(R⁷)(R⁸)) contains from about 50 to about 100 carbon atoms.
 9. The process of claim 7 wherein the olefin ha M_(n) ranging from about 400 to about
 3000. 10. The process of claim 7 wherein the olefinic compound is a polyolefin comprising a mixture of isomers, at least about 50% by weight of the mixture comprising isomers of the formula

    H.sub.2 C═C(R.sup.6)(CH(R.sup.7)(R.sup.8))

wherein R⁶ is H or lower alkyl.
 11. The process of claim 10 wherein the polyolefin is a polybutene.
 12. The process of claim 11 wherein the polybutene is polyisobutylene.
 13. The process of claim 10 wherein R⁶ is methyl.
 14. The process of claim 1 wherein the olefinic compound is a polyolefin comprising a mixture of isomers wherein from about 50% to 65% are trisubstituted olefins wherein one substituent contains from 2 to about 5000 carbon atoms and the other two substituents are lower alkyl.
 15. The process of claim 14 wherein the trisubstituted olefin comprises a mixture of cis-and trans-1-lower alkyl, 1-aliphatic hydrocarbyl containing from about 30 to about 100 carbon atoms, 2-lower alkyl ethene and 1,1-di-lower alkyl, 2-(aliphatic hydrocarbyl containing from 30 to about 100 carbon atoms) ethene.
 16. The process of claim 14 wherein the polyolefin is a polybutene.
 17. The process of claim 14 wherein the polyolefin is polyisobutylene.
 18. The process of claim 1 wherein the olefinic compound is a linear α-olefin containing from 8 to about 28 carbon atoms.
 19. The process of claim 1 conducted in the presence of an acid catalyst.
 20. The process of claim 19 wherein the acid catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a mineral acid and an organic sulfonic acid.
 21. The process of claim 1 conducted in the presence of an azeotroping solvent.
 22. The process of claim 1 wherein the carboxylic reactant (B) is added continuously over a period of from 1 to 10 hours.
 23. The process of claim 1 wherein the carboxylic reactant (B) is added in 2 to 10 portions over a period of 1 to 10 hours. 